Envelope and stamp sviosstener



(No Model.)

J. R. PORTER. ENVELOPE AND STAMP MOISTENER.

No. 888,914. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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JAMES B. PORTER, OF NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, OHIO.

ENVELOPE AND STAMP MOlST-ENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,914, dated September 4, 1888.

(.\'0 mndeLl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES B. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Na tional Military Home, in the county of Mont gornery and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and nsefnllmproveinent in Envelope and Stamp Moisteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the inventiomwhich will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in an envelope and stamp moistener; and it consists ofa reservoir or well, a sphere held in a pivotal frame central over the said reservoir, and a cap provided with orifices for a felt strip, on which the said sphere rests.

The object of my invention is the providing ofa convenient device for moistening envelopes and stamps for the purpose of sealing the same by passing the mucilaginous edge over a moistened felt, the necessary pressure being given by a glass sphere under which the articles are passed.

The mechanism is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the device, a part being in section on line at, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan of the top plate of the reservoir and the closing-cap.

Like letters designate like parls throughout the several views.

The vessel A is of glass and has a central well, 10, (indicated by dotted lines,) and which when in use is filled with water. This vessel may be constructed in any desirable form, the essential feature being the central well. To the top of this vessel is cemented the brass rim 0, and this has an upwardly-extending lug upon which is pivoted the frame D. This frame supports the glass sphere F, and consists of two parts-the one a circular orifice for the said sphere and the other the arm E, extending over the top of the same--and with these parts the said sphere can freely revolve. The cap B may be made of either wood, glass, or metal, the same consisting of a part which enters the mouth of the well, a flanged path which rests on the reservoir, :1 central quad rangular elevation, f, the inclined rib a, and the two orifices s s. \Vithin these orifices is placed the felt strip 1:, (shown in substance at 'u and by dotted lines a 11'.) The ends of said felt are passed through the orifices of the cap, and said ends terminate on or near the bottom of the well, and the central portion rests on the central quadrangular elevation, and on this portion rests the glass sphere.

The operation is thus: Take in the hands the flap of an envelope with the nincilagiuous edge downward. Pass the same between the sphere and the felt, and the same is thereby moistened suitably for the purpose of scaling said envelope.

Having fully described my invention,whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The reservoir A, ri ll] 6, with sup porting-lug, frame D,with holding part E, the cap B,with orifices and felt 41 therein, and the sphere F, in combination, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own affix mysignatu re in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. PORTER.

Witnesses:

B. PlGKER-ING, REDMOND P. Sites. 

